'THE SINGING BEE' HITS A HIGH NOTE, SCORING THE HIGHEST RATINGS OF ANY SUMMER SERIES TELECAST ON ANY NETWORK SO FAR THIS YEAR

'THE SINGING BEE' HITS A HIGH NOTE, SCORING THE HIGHEST RATINGS OF ANY SUMMER SERIES TELECAST ON ANY NETWORK SO FAR THIS YEAR

'THE SINGING BEE' DEBUT IS THE HIGHEST-RATED NEW SUMMER SERIES PREMIERE ON ANY NETWORK IN FIVE YEARS IN ADULTS 18-49

IN OVERALL VIEWERS, 'SINGING BEE' IS THE MOST-WATCHED NEW SUMMER SERIES PREMIERE IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS. SINCE THE DEBUT OF 'DANCING WITH THE STARS'

BURBANK, Calif. � July 11, 2007 � Last night, the series debut of "The Singing Bee" scored the highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership of any summer series on any network so far this year, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

In adults 18-49, "The Singing Bee" delivered the highest rating for any new summer series premiere on any network in nearly five years (since the July 22, 2002 debut of NBC's "Meet My Folks"). It also marks the highest 18-49 rating for any unscripted series debut on NBC, in or out of the regular season, since the November 3, 2003 premiere of "Average Joe."

In overall total viewers, "Singing Bee" was the most-watched new summer series premiere on any network in more than two years, since the debut of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on June 1, 2005. For NBC

At 9:30 p.m. ET, the debut of "The Singing Bee" (5.0 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 13.1 million viewers overall) dominated its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Despite unusual competition from Fox's telecast of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, "Singing Bee" delivered the highest 18-49 rating and overall viewer total for any telecast on any network since the season finale of "House" on May 29.

"Singing Bee" built by 32 percent in 18-49 rating versus the full duration program rating of its lead-in, "America's Got Talent," and by 9 percent in 18-49 versus the final half-hour of "Talent" (a 4.6 from 9-9:30 p.m.)

From 8-9:30 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (3.8/11 in adults 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key measures opposite Fox's telecast of the All-Star Game, pending updates. From its first half-hour to its third, "Talent" grew by 53 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.6/13 from a 3.0/10) and increased by 42 percent, or 3.9 million persons, in overall total viewers (to 13.3 million from 9.4 million).

At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating for a rebroadcast since December 26, 2006 "SVU" ranked a strong #2 in 18-49 to Fox's baseball telecast and was #1 in all key adult-female demographics, pending updates

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: NBC, 3.7 rating, 11 share; Fox, 3.6/11; CBS, 2.1/6; ABC, 1.8/5; CW, 0.5/2. In overall total viewers, July 10 preliminary results are: Fox, 11.4 million; NBC, 10.7 million; CBS, 7.0 million; ABC, 5.3 million; and CW, 1.3 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATE: 'THE SINGING BEE' HITS A HIGH NOTE, SCORING THE HIGHEST RATINGS OF ANY SUMMER SERIES TELECAST ON ANY NETWORK SO FAR THIS YEAR

'THE SINGING BEE' DEBUT IS THE HIGHEST-RATED NEW SUMMER SERIES PREMIERE ON ANY NETWORK IN FIVE YEARS IN ADULTS 18-49

IN OVERALL VIEWERS, 'SINGING BEE' IS THE MOST-WATCHED NEW SUMMER SERIES PREMIERE IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS. SINCE THE DEBUT OF 'DANCING WITH THE STARS'

BURBANK, Calif. � July 11, 2007 � Last night, the series debut of "The Singing Bee" scored the highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership of any summer series telecast on any network so far this year, according to updated "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

In adults 18-49, "The Singing Bee" delivered the highest rating for any new summer series premiere on any network in nearly five years (since the July 22, 2002 debut of NBC's "Meet My Folks"). It also marks the highest 18-49 rating for any unscripted series debut on NBC, in or out of the regular season, since the January 8, 2004 premiere of "The Apprentice."

In overall total viewers, "Singing Bee" was the most-watched new summer series premiere on any network in more than two years, since the debut of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on June 1, 2005. For NBC it was the most-watched summer series premiere in total viewers in at least 13 years.

At 9:30 p.m. ET, the debut of "The Singing Bee" (5.1 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall) dominated its time period in the key demographics of adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34. Despite unusual competition from Fox's telecast of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, "Singing Bee" delivered the highest 18-49 rating and overall viewer total for any telecast on any network since the season finale of "House" on May 29.

"Singing Bee" built by 31 percent in 18-49 rating versus the full duration program rating of its lead-in, "America's Got Talent," and by 9 percent in 18-49 versus the final half-hour of "Talent" (a 4.7 from 9-9:30 p.m.)

From 8-9:30 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (3.9/12 in adults 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key measures opposite Fox's telecast of the All-Star Game. From its first half-hour to its third, "Talent" grew by 53 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.7/14 from a 3.1/10) and increased by 43 percent, or more than 4.0 million persons, in overall total viewers (to 13.5 million from 9.5 million).

At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) ranked a strong #2 in 18-49 to Fox's baseball telecast and was #1 in all key adult-female demographics

NBC and Fox tied for #1 for the night in adults 18-49, marking the sixth consecutive Tuesday night that NBC ranked #1 or tied for #1.

Updated 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: Fox, 3.7/12; NBC, 3.7/11; CBS, 2.1/6; ABC, 1.8/5; CW, 0.5/2. In overall total viewers, July 10 updated results are: Fox, 11.9 million; NBC, 10.7 million; CBS, 7.0 million; ABC, 5.3 million; and CW, 1.3 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.